New industrial water purification and transport pipelines ready for delivery

With this we supply water in a sustainable way to the industry in the Eemshaven with Google as the first major customer, we protect drinking water sources for the drinking water supply and the security of supply in Northeast Groningen has been sustainably and robustly reinforced for companies and private individuals in the region. We are also taking an important step in the water transition and the greening and sustainability of the Groningen water supply!

View the mini report 'IWZ ready for delivery' here (Dutch).

Rising water demand
The Eemshaven has undergone considerable development in recent years. This also means an increasing demand from Northeast Groningen for water to be used as cooling and process water. We supply this 'customized water' via North Water, a joint industrial water subsidiary of Waterbedrijf Groningen and Evides Industriewater. And a sustainable industrial water supply had been on the wish list for some time. In order to offer an alternative and thus prevent the use of drinking water as industrial water. But it is not financially possible to build such an extensive industrial water treatment plant without concrete customers. In other words, you can only realize a project like this together! Because with the arrival of Google to the Eemshaven, the plans accelerated very concretely.

Google: innovating to make operations more sustainable
Google is committed to sustainability and wants to have a positive impact on the environment. With the completion of the new purification in Groningen, Google's data center in Eemshaven can use industrial water for cooling, which fits in with its goal of operating sustainably. As a result, Google and other companies in the region are now able to use water in a new way. Google found the realization of such great importance that it also financially participated in the project with a contribution of more than 45 million euros, in order to make the realization possible. Google became the so-called 'launching customer'; In addition to being the first customer for the sustainable industrial water treatment plant to be built at the time, Google also became a partner in the project through its contribution.

Sustainable choices: WWTP, the ideal location
Together with the Noorderzijlvest water board, the Garmerwolde WWTP site was chosen as the location: from here sufficient surface water of good quality from the Eemskanaal is available as a source for industrial water. In addition, it offers maximum opportunities for the reuse of sludge and treated sewage waste water (effluent). An exploration is currently underway into the possibilities of reusing the effluent in the near future. Result: effective cooperation in the water chain, a sustainable industrial water supply, sufficient customized water without affecting the drinking water supply and reuse of effluent.

New pipeline route for industrial and drinking water
In order to be able to supply the industrial water from Garmerwolde to the Eemshaven, a completely new transport pipeline route for industrial water was also constructed. Water company Groningen simultaneously laid a new drinking water pipeline along largely the same route. In order to ensure a robust drinking water infrastructure for the supply area of ​​Northeast Groningen. Combining work with work is a win-win for all involved: one instead of two construction saves in costs but also in nuisance.

View 'the making of Sustainable industrial water supply' here (Dutch).

A project like this only works together
We are proud of the result: the industrial water supply can now supply the Eemshaven and Google has sustainable industrial water for the cooling process in the data center. There is no doubt that such a project can only be realized together. This enormous project is therefore thanks to the support of and cooperation with various partners, stakeholders, licensing authorities, implementers, landowners and the environment. This way we take care of our water together for later!